Umbrella holder for automobiles



Nov. 7, i967 c. G. HINKLE UMBRELLA HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES v Filed Nov. 23, 1965 CHARLES G. HINKLE ATTORN E Y6 United States Patent 3,351,251 UMBRELLA HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES Charles G. Hinkle, Roberta Drive, Greenville, S.C. 29607 Filed Nov. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 509,318 2 Claims. (Cl. 22429) The present invention relates generally to an umbrella carrier for automobiles and has as its principal object the provision of bendable metal attachment arm members which may be adapted to conform to the configuration of center posts of a sedan.

Numerous previous inventors, such as OHaire (U.S. Patent No. 797,214); Romer (US. Patent No. 1,413,- 432); Northcutt (US. Patent No. 2,426,113); Theberge (US. Patent No. 3,081,126) and Coleman (Great Britain Patent No. 26,463), have addressed themselves to the problem of providing umbrella stands or holders adjacent seats, particularly in automobiles. However, the ability of the present umbrella holder to be used in conjunction with any automobile having a center post is believed to constitute an important advancement in this field. For example, after the purchase of new car, the present umbrella holder may be removed from tradein and positioned in new sedan without damage to car. As a practical matter, the only limitation upon use of applicants preferred embodiment of invention is that the automobile be of sedan type having conventional center post. Of course, a magnetized embodiment is provided which may be employed in any style car.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a holder for umbrellas in an automobile which is characterized by its simplicity in construction and flexibility of use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automobile umbrella holder having bendable metal arm members adapted to conform to the configuration of center post of any sedan.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide various attachment assemblies for securing umbrella within holder characterized by bendable arm members adapted to conform to sedan center post.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an automobile umbrella holder which is magnetized to permit attachment to pre-selected portion of car interior.

Other objects of the present invention will become ap parent from the ensuing specification and attached draw ing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of portion of automobile interior illustrating installation of first embodiment of umbrella holder;

FIG. 2 is a top view of first embodiment of umbrella holder;

FIG. 3 is a top view of second embodiment of automobile umbrella holder employing buckle and strap fastening arrangement; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of third embodiment of umbrella holder employing magnetized base assembly.

As seen in FIG. 1, the umbrella holder, generally designated by the reference numeral is designed for positioning along center post 12 of automobile 14. In this manner, umbrella 16 is held between the end of front seat (not shown) corresponding to rear seat 18 and center post 12. Of course, holder 10 is positioned along center post 12 above the center or middle portion of umbrella 16 to insure against undesired movement or unfastening.

The first embodiment of invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the reference numeral 10 again generally designates the holder assembly. In this embodiment, bendable ice ing ring 30 is secured to the intersection of arms 20 and 22 at spot weld 32. Preferably, holding ring 30 is made from spring steel. While one end of ring 30 is provided with a loop 34 through which catch 36 passes, the other end of ring 30 terminates in shoulder 38 which supports catch 36 to secure umbrella 16 in place within ring 30. Of course, there may be automobiles that do not have suflicient space between center post and front seat to permit offsetting of members 24 and 26. In such case, the offset (FIG. 2) may be omitted permitting entire unit to be installed in one-half narrower space between center post and seat.

Assembly is initiated by placing umbrella 16 in holding ring 30 of bracket 10 to grip the umbrella tightly. Again, holder 10 is always placed above the center or middle of umbrella 16. Then, while umbrella 16 is standing beside center post 12, arms 20 and 22 are bent around each side of post 12. Obviously, arms 20 and 22 of holder 10 must be extended far enough around each side of center post 12 to insure a tight fit. The umbrella 16 is then removed from holder 10 after which holder 10 may, in turn, be removed from center post 12 so that any excess in length of arms 20 and 22 may be cut off. Holder 10 is then replaced on center post 12 and clamped tightly to the side walls thereof. If the face of center post 12 is not flat, a hammer may be used to tap holder 10 into conformity with the contours of the face of center post 12. This will not only tighten holder 10 but also improve the appearance of the assembly as a whole.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the holder is again generally designated by the reference numeral 10. In this embodiment, bracket 44 is formed as an extension of arms 40 and 42 which are joined at spot weld 46. In this manner, bracket 44 is offset from those portions of arms 40 and 42 which rest in abutting relationship against center post 12, thus permitting umbrella 16 to be held in spaced relationship from the automobile doors, In this embodiment, the holding ring and catch are replaced with conventional buckle and strap assembly 48 permitting umbrellas of various sizes to be conveniently supported. Obviously, the buckle and strap assembly may pass through slots in bracket 44, as shown, or be bolted to bracket 44, as desired.

In FIG. 4 is illustrated a third embodiment of invention which the bendable metal arms are replaced with a single base 50 containing magnets 52. Of course, with this magnetized embodiment the entire umbrella holder may be positioned at any suitable point within the automobile. Certainly the embodiment of FIG. 4 is not limited to sedans having center posts. Finally, the FIG. 4 embodiment is equipped with conventional buckle and strap assembly 59.

Manifestly, variation in design and construction may be envisioned without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as defined by the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

1. An umbrella holder for attachment to an automobile comprising:

(A) a bracket assembly adapted to conform and be attached to a center post of said automobile and including a middle portion olfset inwardly from said center post to define a support for said umbrella and bendable metal arm members adapted to conform to the configuration of a center post of said automobile, and

(B) fastening means, including a holding ring spot welded to said'bra'cket assembly together with catch means for releasably securing said umbrella therein.

2. An umbrella holder for attachment to an automobile, comprising:

(A) a bracket assembly adapted to conform and be attached to a center post of said automobile, said bracket assembly consisting of a single metal member having end portions adapted to conform to the configuration of the center post of said automobile, said bracket assembly further having a middle portion offset inwardly from said end portions to define a support for said umbrella, and

(B) fastening means attached to said offset portion for releasably securing said umbrella.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Beehler 224-29 Lane.

Zelenko.

Johnson 22442.45 X Slater 22442.45 X

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN UMBRELLA HOLDER FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN AUTOMOBILE COMPRISING: (A) A BRACKET ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO CONFORM AND BE ATTACHED TO A CENTER POST OF SAID AUTOMOBILE AND INCLUDING A MIDDLE PORTION OFFSET INWARDLY FROM SAID CENTER POST TO DEFINE A SUPPORT FOR SAID UMBRELLA AND BENDABLE METAL ARM MEMBERS ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE CONFIGURATION OF A CENTER POST OF SAID AUTOMOBILE, AND (B) FASTENING MEANS, INCLUDING A HOLDING RING SPOT WELDED TO SAID BRACKET ASSEMBLY TOGETHER WITH CATCH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID UMBRELLA THEREIN. 